Clutch.



P. ENGLISH.

CLUTCH. PPLIUATION HYLBD AUG. .4, 190s.

Patented 0cn.25,1910.

z sHnETs-s1IMT 2.

A TTORNE Y Within a bearingv 17 formed`in the cover.-

gmaman STATES PATENT onirica.

.Tm ENGLISH, F* SATBEBS STATIGN, CLIFORNIA, ASSIGHOB T0 THE H'YDRAUJIC CLUTCH conm, or

umm-om'. f

SAN FnANeIsCo, cnmromna, 'A CORPORATION or ARIZONAy Curran.

Specivication of Letters Patent. Application led August 4, 1909. Serial No. 511,104.-

Patenfed oct. 25, 191e.

To all whom 'itmay concern:

Be it known that I, PETER ENGLISH, `a citizen of the UnitedStates, residin at Sathers Station, in the county of Alame a and State of California, have invented new and usefull Improvements in Clutches, of which the following is' a specification.

The object of the present invention `is to provide improved means for transmitting motion from a driving shaft to the shaft to be driven, which will permit of the speedof the driven shaft being varied to any desired extent, and of the connection between the driving and driven shafts being made and broken, both of these results being obtained without any jar or shock such as accompanies the use of gear wheels, generally used for this purpose.

In the accompanying draw1ngs,.F1gure 1 1s av broken slde vlew of the mechanlsm;

Figl 2 is a cross section on the line 2 of Figf -to thecover plate 5, and having a hub 9 and a stuffing box 1() through'which t-he driven shaft 2 passes. Said plates 5 and 8 are bolted to said cylinder by bolts 11.

12 indicates a. take-up plate, which has a reduced portion 13 secured within the cavity of the cover plate .8 for the purpose of taking up the wea-r within the cylinder 7. This extension 13 is screw-threaded, and lits corresponding screw-threads in the cover-plate, and by thiskmeans the take up plate or disk may be advanced to any small desired degree from time to time, tocompensate for wear which may take place between the tween these two points of entrance of the revoluble parts.

Secured upon the inner end of the shaft 2 is a hub 14 of a drum 15, upon' the other side of which is formed a hub 16 which revolves plate AThe center of said cover plate 5 is formed with a boss 18 extending inwardly within the hub- 16 of the drum, and in said boss there is screwed a pin19` extendingv through the drum nearly to the .op osite wall thereof. The driving shaft l, shaft 2, drum 15, and hubs 14 and 16 are coaxial with each other, andecc'entric to they cylinder 7 while the pin 19 is concentric to said cylinder. Upon saidpin within said drum are pivoted the inner ends of two 'wings or Yanes 20 and 21, each vane havingl a wide head'22 extending between the cover plate 5 on one side and the take-up plate on the other side, the inner end of the vane 20 being eforked and extending around the pin 19 on each side of the inner end of the vane 21 in the manner of a hinge. Each vane head can slide between approximately semicylindrical gibs 23 which can rock in corresponding recesses 24 formedin the periphriven very of the drum.` Said recesses have enlargements 25 to permit the vanes to oscillate in the movement of the' drum, as hereinafter appears. These gibs serve two purposes: They support the ends of the vanesV in their proper position while permitting them to have an oscillating movement, and they serve to make a Huid tight joint at the parts where the vanes pass through the circumference of the drum.

VV'thinthe body of the cylinder, there is I formed a conduit 26 for a liquid, preferably oil, said conduit opening into the interior lof the cylinder at two points spaced from each other about 120. In the art of the inner surface of the cylinder whlch is nearest-the center ofthe drum, and between the points wherev theends of the conduit enter the interior of the cylinder, 'there is formed a cavity or socket 27 to receive an abutment block 28, the inner surface of Awhich is made 'cylindrical to fit snugly against the surface of the drum 15, which rotates in contact therewith. Against the back of said block can press a screw'29, which can be screwed up from time to time to take up the wear on the block. Since the inner surface of. the abutment block 28 accurately conforms to the surface of the drum, the latter can, be-

conduits, revolve in close contactwith` the inner surface of-the abutment block; but,

owing to the eccentric location of the pin 19 upon which-the inner ends `of the vanes are ends of 'the conduits is, by said eccentriclty, withdrawn inwardly withinthe surface of the drum, the outer end of each vane following, at all times, the circle ofthe inner surface ot the cylinder. It is thus provided that th1s outer end of the vane never comes into 'contactwith the abutment block and there is no chance of jar, shock, or vibration from such a cause. Midway between its two ends, the liquid conduit 26 is adapted to be closed by a piston valve 30 in a cylinder 31 operated by a rod 32 passing through a gland 33 and actuated by a lever 34'pivoted upon the end of a supporting rod 35, the other end of said lever belng forked and .having pins 36 engaging a groove 37 in a clutch-collar 38 slidable upon the shaft to be driven. Said collar 38 has also a groove' 39 by which it can be moved longitudinally, thereby causing the piston valve 30 to slide to open or close lthe conduit as may be desired.

In addition to the conduit 26, there is pro- `vided'a smaller auxiliary conduit 40, which is adapted to be closed by ay piston valve 4],

working in a cylinder 42 and operated by a l rod 43, the latter sliding in a guide 44 in one 'of the standards, said rod being adapted to be actuated by means of a sleeve 45 having a knob 46 engaged by the groove 39, said sleeve 45 being slidable on said rod and adapted to engage, at opposite ends of its slidable movement, pins49 on, said rod, so as to thereby impart longitudinal motion to said rod and to the piston valve 4l to open or close said auxiliary conduit.

lThe operation is as follows: When the clutch is operated to withdraw the two piston valves, the liquid, as oil, will liow freely around the conduit 26, and, if the driving shaft is rotating, then the effect will be to expel, by centrifugal force, the oil from the interior of the cyllnder into the conduit 26, and into the piston valve chamber. The cylinder can then rotate freely around the drum without appreciable loss of power in continually expelling the oil from the space between the drum and cylinder. When it is desired to transmit motion from the driving to the driven shaft, the mechanism is operated to move the piston valves and close,

first, the -conduit 40, and then the conduit' 26. 'As these passages are closed, the oil is forced into the interior of the cylinder, so that the cylinder is now full of oil, and since the` oil cannot pass by the escape conduits, and is confined,'the effect of the rotation of the driving shaft, and of the cylinder yaround the drum is to rotate the drum with them, thus rotating the shaft to be driven. The above effect is produced gradually or suddenly according as the passage in the conduit is gradually or.`suddenly closed, it

'being evident that motion can be communicated to the driven shaft quickly or slowly as may be desired. To disconnect the driving from the driven shaft, the reverse operavoperated to open the piston valves, 'it allows the liquid to pass freely through the conduits, and immediatelymemoves all operative connection between the casing and the drum, so that the latter is no longer driven by the former. But for the use of the auxiliary conduit 40, the effect would be that, wh'en the valve 30 is wide open, the drum rotating freely in the cylinder, and the clutch loose, the pistons of the drum would be compelled to force oil in front of them and around by the conduit 26. The friction caused by the flow of the loil through this conduit would be considerable and would uselessly absorb power. By providing the auxiliary conduit 40, the result is that, when the clutch is loose, all of the oil is withdrawn from between the drum and the cylinder into the' conduit 26, and the pistons 22 propel in front of them only alr, which passes from one sidecof the drum to the other through the auxiliary conduit 40. Thus instead of constantly propelling a heavy liquid, the only work that the pistons have to do is to propel air in the aforesaid channel.' It is apparent that, if said mecha-A nism is operated so that the main piston valve is slightly open, the liquid, while passinglthrough the valve opening, does so with di `cu1ty, and to that extent causes the drum to be revolved by the revolution of the cylinder around it; but at a slower speed. The speed to be obtained can thus be regulated by opening the valve more or less.

In place of the above described arrangement, the driving shaft can be connected to the drum and the cylinder to the shaft to be driven, but the former arrangement is preferred because the cylinder then takes the place of a fly-wheel for the engine shaft.

I claim 1. In a hydraulic clutch, the combination l with a casing having an eccentric bearingbox in one of its heads, and a supporting arm extended from said box inwardtoward through the hollow trunnion into the interior of the drum, and wings or vanes pivotally mounted on said fixed shaft extending through the slots in the drum and bearing against the inner face of the cylinder.

2. In a hydraulic clutch, the combination with a cylinder or casing having in one of its heads an externally closed eccentric bearing box communicating with the interior of the cylinder, and a fixed shaft concentricv short distance into the interior t-hereof, said withN thecylinder and extending-"into the interior thereof, said shaft beingr provided with `wings or vanes pivotally vmounted thereon and bearing against vvthe innertface of the cylinder, ofi-a main shaft' extending through the other head of the cylinder a shaftb'eing eccentric relatively to the cylinder and concentric with the bearingbox, and a drum closed at one end to form a hub whereby it is secured .to the end of the main shaft, having a hollow interior to receive the fixed shaft. and provlded with a` hollow open trunnion at its opposite end supported within the bea1'i`ng-box,said drum being concentric with the main shaft and bearing-box and eccentric relatively to lthe cylinder, and provided with slotsthrough which the wings or vanes extend.

3. In a hydraulic clutch,'the combination with a cylinder having a fixed concentric shaft, wlngs or vanes having hubs encircling sald shaft. sald cylinder having also an ec- 'centric externally closed vbearing-box in one of its heads, of a correspondingly eccentric main shaft extending through the other head, aI hollow drum secured'at one vend to said shaft and concentric therewith, and Ahavingrat its other end a hollow trunnion through which thefixed shaft passes, said drum having slots in which the wings 'or vanes are slidable.

4. In a hydraulic clutch the combination with a cylinder having in its inner face a de# pression lor recess of smallerradius and less length than the cylinder proper, of an eccentric hollow drum inclosed in said cylinder and having a body portion of aradius conforming to the depression or recessto bear upon the true cylindrical face ofthe cylin-l der, and reduced ends, an abutment block located in said depression or recess, a fixed shaft concentric with the cylinder and ex` tending into the interior of the hollowdruln, and wingsl or vanes pivotally mounted on said fixedshaftextendingthrough slots in the drum, and having their outer` ends widened. l

. The combination in a hydraulic clutch, of a cylindrical shell, a shaft fixed and turn- 4able with said `shell, a second shaft axially 'in line with the first, extendlng through and turnable within the oppositehead ofouter ends of the vanes are caused to traverse the inner periphery of the cylinder, a segmental conduit opening' into the interior of the cylinder upon each side of the point of contact between the drum and the cylinder, a packing plate or abutment fitting the cylinder between the conduit inlet openings,

-`all'dmieans to .adjust said plate to maintain 'contact` between Ait and the periphery of the drum, 6.' A hydraulic clutch to transmit power betweenindependent shafts axially in line,

said clutch including a shell or casing fixed to one shaft and eccentric thereto, a drum fixed concentrically to the contiguous end of the opposite shaft, said drum turnable `with one part of its periphery substantially` in contact with the interior of the casing,

'a pin or stem concentric with thecasing eX- tending into the drum, Wings or vanes having their inner ends turnable upon'said pin,

and projecting radially therefrom through the drum w1th their outer edges in contactwith the interior ofthe casing, a. circumferentiall conduit inthe body of the casing having ports opening into the interior on each side of the lpolnt of contact between the drum and casing, a liquid medium filling said conduit and theinterior of the casing, and means byl which the flow of said liquid induced -by the vanes may be varied or stopped. u

7. The combination with alined contiguous shafts, of a casing eccentrically fixed tofone shaft and havinga stuffing-.box i through which the other shaft is turnable, a drum fixed concentrically to said second shaft within the casing, a pin or stem extending into the drum from the casing head, and eccentric to the shafts and drum, wings or vanes slidable through slots in the drum, said vanes having theirinner ends carried by the eccentric pin,land their outer endsy rcontacting with th`ekinterior of the casing, said casing having aci'rcumferential conduit-with ports opening to the interior, a liquid medium within the case and conduits, and a gate or valve by which the movement of the liquidy may be regulated orstopp'ed.

8. A shell -or casing with opposed' heads, one ofsaid heads having a hub to'yform a journal-bearing, and a shaft 'keyed to the outer end of the hub, said h ead having an -outer end, a second shaft turnable through the opposite head in line with the rst shaft, and having a drum keyed to its inner end and tnrnable within the casing, a hollow annular hub extending from the opposite end of the drum, and a groove or channel in the first named head within which said hub bears and is turnable.

10.v A shell or casing having opposed ne in the first named hea to its outer end, a second shaft turnable first s y inner end and turnable within the casing, a hollow annular hub extending from `the op osite end of the drum, a roove or chanwithin which said hub bears and is turnable, an eccentrically fixed pin projecting from said head into the drum, wlngs. or vanes slidable through slots/in the. drum, having their inner ends turnably fitted to the pin and their outer edges `contacting with the interior of the casin 11. A ollow cylindrical casing, a drum eccentrically mounted with its periphery in contact `with the interior of the casing, a stem or pin concentric with the casing, vanes having their inner ends carried by the pin and the outer edges in contact with the interior of the casing, and rockable bearing througlh the opposite head in line with thev aft, an having a drum keyed, to itsl plates or gibs in the drum through whic the vanes are slidable.

12. A shell or casing having opposed heads, one of which has a hub to form an exterior journal-bearing, and a shaft keyed to itsl outer end, a second shaft turnable through the opposite head in line-with the first shaft, and having a ldrum keyed to its inner end and turnable within' the casing, a hollow annular hub extending from the opposite end of the drum, a oove or channel in the first na'med hea within which said hub bears and is turnable, and avwearcompensating disk fitting the opposite end of the drum, said disk having a screwthreaded extension turnable in a correspondin ly threaded cavity in the contiguous hea 13. In means for transmitting motion from a driving to a driven shaft, the combination of a cylinderconnected with the driving shaft, but eccentric thereto, a drum connected to the driven shaft concentric therewith," a vanecarried vby said drum and arranged torotate eoncentrically to the. cyl-j index', said cylinder having independent` main'and auxiliary conduits'connectmg op-l posite spaces between the drumv and cylinder, and l-both wholly outside the spacev between the drum and cylinder, and means for closing both conduitssin a single movement,

`to, `a vane carried by lsaid drum and arranged to-rotate concentrically to the cyliI1-. der, said cylinder having independent main andl auxiliary conduits connecting opposite spaces -between the drum and cilinder, and vboth wholly outside the space drum and cylinder, and-means for closing both conduits in succession in a single movement, substantially as described.

15. In means for -transmittin -motion Afrom a driving to adriven shaft, t e.combi nation ofa' "cylinder arranged to contain a liquid and connected `to one of said shafts, a drum within the cylinder connected to the other shaft, one of said shafts being connected concentrically, and the other eccentrically, a vane carrledby one of said shaftconnected elements, and engaging the other element, an escape conduit for the Vli uid contained between the two elements, an an abutment supported in the cylinder and engaging the 'surface of the drum, and means for adjusting said abutment to and from said drum, substantially as described.

In. testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in theypresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS M. WRIGHT, D. B. RICHARDS.

etween the 

